Mao Tangchen

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Mao Tangchen (茅堂辰)
Alias(es)	Chief Engineer Mao; General Mao; Veteran General
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Zhang Xueming's forces; later the Empire
Occupation/Role	Engineer, Chief Engineer, military commander, reconnaissance leader
Status	Active 515
First Appearance	Chapter 113

Background / History

Mao Tangchen first appears as an engineer consulted by Zhang Xueming over a proposed highway network linking Harbin, Fengtian, Beiping, Tianjin, and numerous branch routes. He initially considers parallel roads unnecessary because railways already have superior transport capacity, but becomes a committed supporter after Zhang explains their future military and civilian value. 113

Once convinced, Mao immediately defines the project’s industrial requirements: tunnel-boring machines, road rollers, cement, rebar, mines, cement plants, and steel mills. He later commits himself to Zhang’s plan after requesting one million laborers and an estimated six hundred million silver dollars in startup capital. 113 114

By the Shanxi Railway project, Mao serves as Chief Engineer and advocates for an additional 100 tunnel-boring machines to overcome the Taihang Mountains’ difficult geology. He frames the railway as vital to moving northwestern coal for steel mills and power plants, securing Zhang’s approval. 231

His responsibilities expand beyond engineering into combat planning, logistics, intelligence, and command. He leads reconnaissance missions, oversees military supplies, commands elite troops in Australia, and is later selected to accompany Zhang as vanguard commander in the campaign against Moon Kingdom. 335 349 375 515

Personality

Mao is practical, exacting, and initially skeptical of plans that appear wasteful or unrealistic. His objections to the highway network and later to incorporating the Yaxi Gang stem from concern for logistics, military discipline, and fairness to established soldiers. 113 330

He is intensely loyal to Zhang Xueming and openly concerned with his safety. He repeatedly urges caution when Zhang enters danger personally, offers to take hazardous assignments in his place, and chooses to remain behind during the Annam campaign to guard the rear. 373 451 487

Although direct and occasionally blunt, Mao can revise his views when presented with a convincing strategic rationale. Zhang’s explanation of governing through overwhelming benefits and strength changes Mao’s understanding of how to secure Kajies and the Yaxi Gang’s loyalty. 329 332

Abilities & Skills

Engineering and Infrastructure Planning

Mao is an engineer capable of translating broad policy into specific industrial and labor requirements.

• Identified the machinery, materials, and supporting industries needed for a national highway program. 113
• Set the manpower and startup-capital estimates for the initial construction project. 114
• Directed infrastructure development involving the Jingjin Bridge, highways, postal systems, and the Shanxi Railway. 231
• Designed an artificial-earthquake plan requiring concentrated artillery shells, aerial bombs, drill holes, and a liquid oxygen-propane mixture. 311

Strategic Analysis

Mao analyzes enemy incentives, escape routes, and operational risks.

• Correctly predicted that Takeda Shingen would seek refuge near the British defense zone, using mountains and coastal islands as possible hiding places. 317
• Recognized that the Australian President’s reliance on General Billy indicated a lack of trusted personnel and a potentially desperate opponent. 367
• Warned Zhang against granting unguarded trust to the Yaxi Gang before understanding Zhang’s strategy of binding them through interests. 329 332

Command and Logistics

Mao commands troops and manages materiel with strict discipline.

• Led a reconnaissance platoon during a twenty-kilometer search around a Siberian base and halted foreign arms deliveries until security concerns were resolved. 335
• Inspected Australia’s truce-delivery convoy, confirming weapons, ammunition, food, and medicine matched the required supplies. 349
• Received direct command over 300 elite soldiers for the operation against Australia’s Rocket Launcher Research Base. 375
• Organized soldiers, construction workers, and researchers during urgent missions and evacuations. 361 466

Espionage and Sabotage

Mao conducts infiltration operations despite not being portrayed as a specialist spy at the outset.

• Gathered intelligence in Australia through small, independent teams and personally met an informant connected to the rocket-launcher project. 371 372
• Secured the project codename, key parameters, and the location of the complete blueprints in the Ministry of Defense’s highest-security vault. 372
• Infiltrated a rocket-component factory disguised as a researcher and created near-undetectable cracks in components intended to cause assembly or launch failure. 376
• Refused to provide information after his capture and interrogation by the Australian President and General Billy. 377

Persuasion and Psychological Pressure

Mao can combine incentives and threats when handling informants or adversaries.

• Offered an Australian informant money, a new identity, and an escape route, while making the consequences of deception clear. 372
• Attempted to recruit General Billy by emphasizing Zhang Xueming’s treatment of capable people and exploiting Billy’s dissatisfaction. 410
• Enforced Zhang’s meeting terms by requiring General Billy’s accompanying soldiers to surrender their weapons before entering the city. 419

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Gem-inlaid pistol — awarded by Zhang Xueming after Mao correctly analyzed Takeda Shingen’s likely escape route. 317
• Communicator — carried during the Australian rocket-base operation; fragments found after his capture indicated a struggle. 377

Relationships

• Zhang Xueming — superior, longtime confidant, and trusted partner. Zhang relies on Mao for engineering, logistics, intelligence, and vanguard command; Mao consistently prioritizes Zhang’s safety and strategic aims. 113 375 451 515
• Liu Weiguo — fellow subordinate and frequent operational partner. They jointly handled Takeda Shingen’s interrogation and served together during the Siberian campaign. 317 320
• Kajies — leader of the Yaxi Gang. Mao initially strongly opposed integrating Kajies’ bandits into the 29th Division, then gained a greater understanding of Zhang’s approach to winning their allegiance. 330 332
• General Billy — Australian adversary who exposed Mao’s factory sabotage and oversaw his capture; they later coordinate supplies for the Sea-Splitting Torpedo project. 376 377 446
• Australian President — Mao was captured and tortured under his authority during the Australian rocket-launcher operation; Mao later confronts him on Zhang’s behalf. 379 384

Story Role / Major Arcs

National Infrastructure Program

Mao becomes Zhang Xueming’s principal engineering supporter after being persuaded that roads and railways are foundations for both modern warfare and future civilian prosperity. He subsequently leads planning for major construction projects and the Shanxi Railway. 113 114 231

Siberian Campaign

During operations in Siberia, Mao develops from a cautious critic of incorporating the Yaxi Gang into a subordinate who understands Zhang’s method of using overwhelming material support and power to secure loyalty. He also assists with the campaign’s security, supply management, and strategic decisions. 329 332 335 349

Australian Rocket-Launcher Operation

Mao gathers intelligence on Australia’s rocket-launcher project, receives command of 300 elite soldiers, infiltrates the research base, and sabotages rocket components. General Billy discovers him, leading to Mao’s capture, torture, and eventual rescue by Zhang Xueming. 372 375 376 379 380

Blazing Cannon and Later Arms Race

After recovering, Mao reports that Australia’s weapon technology is more advanced than expected, reinforcing Zhang’s decision to secretly continue the Blazing Cannon project. He later monitors Australia’s Cosmic Aircraft program, assists with weapons development, and manages materials for the Sea-Splitting Torpedo project. 381 410 446 464

Moon Kingdom Expedition

As an Imperial General, Mao trains new recruits and is chosen by Zhang Xueming to command the vanguard during the expedition against Moon Kingdom. Zhang values Mao’s steadiness as essential to the offensive force. 513 515

Trivia

• Mao initially resisted Zhang Xueming’s request to lead overseas talent recruitment because he believed his lack of foreign-language ability made him unsuitable for negotiations. 350
• He is described as meticulous and dependable in internal affairs, logistics, and strategy. 350
• His loyalty is strong enough that he offers to follow Zhang “unto death” rather than allow Zhang to personally undertake a dangerous torpedo test. 451